Dishwasher



May 15, 1956 s. A. FIELDING DISHWASHER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 17, 1953 d T A m W W May 15, 1956 s. A. FIELDING DISHWASHER Filed July 17, 1953 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.2

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DISHWASHER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 17, 1953 Fig. 7

9 m mm M .mm o 5 a A g M m r 6 8 E w a Y B United States Patent DISHWASHER Sterling A. Fielding, Portsmouth, Va.

Application July 17, 1953, Serial No. 368,600

2 Claims. (Cl. 134-58) This invention relates in general to improvements in dishwashers, and more specifically to a dishwashing attachment for sinks.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved dishwashing attachment which may be conveniently attached to existing sinks for converting the same into dishwashers.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved dishwashing attachment which may be conveniently attached to dram valves of sinks for selectively receiving water or other cleaning liquids from a sink, the dishwashing attachment being provided with a pump for selectively pumping water or other cleaning liquids circulated from a sink into a spray head Wherebv dishes disposed in the sink maybe conveniently washed.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved dishwashing attachment which is attachable to a drain valve of the sink and is provided with pump means for circulating water contained in the sink, the dishwashing attachment also being provided with means for attaching the same to a water supply line of a sink, whereby either wash water or rinse water may be selectively sprayed on dishes contained in such sink.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved dish rack for use with a sink converted into a dishwasher, the dish rack being provided with means for selectively positioning dishes carried thereby.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming 'a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a vertical sectional view through a conventional sink and shows the same "having attached thereto the dishwashing attachment which is the subject of this invention, the dish rack being mounted on a drainboard of the sink to permit the draining of water from dishes which may be carried thereby;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the dishwashing attachment and shows the connection between the same and the drain valve of the sink, also being illustrated is the connection between the dishwashing attachment and a water supply pipe for'the sink, a portion of a fitting of the dishwashing attachment being broken away and shown in sections inorder to clearly illustrate the manner in which various parts thereof are connected together;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of Figure 2 and shows the relationship between an attaching fitting of the dishwashing attachment and the clearly illustrate the manner in which a brush associated therewith is removably secured thereto;

Figure 5 is a wiring diagram for the dishwashing attachment;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of a supply line for the spray head;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 77 of Figure l and shows the general cross section of the dish rack;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view through the dish rack and shows a rack adjusting member in the process of being adjusted, rack members of the dish rack being omitted for purposes of clarity;

Figure 9 is an enlarged side elevational view of the dish rack, alternate positions of adjusting means for the individual rack members being shown in dotted lines; and

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a modified form of rack member.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will :be seen that there is illustrated in Figure 1 a conventional kitchen sink 10. The sink 10 is provided with a spigot 12 having associated therewith valves 14 and 16 being connected to a hot water supply line 18 and a cold water supply line 20 respectively.

The sink 10 is provided with a drain valve 22 which is communicated with a drain line 24 whereby water and other liquids may be conveniently drained from the sink 10. The .sink 10 is also provided with a drain board 26,.

Connected with the sink 10 in order to convert the same into a dishwasher, is a dishwashing attachment which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 28, the dishwashing attachment being the subject of this .invention.

As is best illustrated in Figure 3, the dishwashing at tachment 28 includes a fitting 30 which surrounds a housing 32 .of the drain valve 22. The fitting 30 is sealed with respect to the housing 32 and the underside of the sink 1!) by a gasket 34. The fitting .30 is retained imposition by a fastener 36 threadedly engaged on the drain line '24,. It will be noted that the bottom of the fitting 30 is sealed with respect .to the drain :line 24, both by a gasket 38 and by a packing ring 40, the packing 40 being disposed within the fitting 30 and engaging the lower portion of the housing 32.

It will be noted that the drain valve 32 is of a conventional type and that in addition to the housing 32 includes a combined valve member and drain basket 42. The drain basket 42 is intended to seat upon the bottom of the housing 32 to form a seal therewith to prevent :the escape of water or other liquids from the sink 10. It will be noted that the combined strainer basket and valve member 42 is provided with a plurality of openings 44 through which water may pass. Thus it-will 'be seen that the exterior of the combined strainer basket and valve member 42 remain communicated with the interior of the sink 10 even when the same is :properly seated on .the housing 32. By providing the housing 32 with a plurality of openings 46, the fluid passage 48 of the :fitting 30 may be communicated with the sink 10 when the drain 24 thereof is closed by the combined strainer basket and valve member 42. The drain valve 22 is also provided with a screen 48 disposed between the combined strainer basket and 'valve member 42 and the housing 32 so as to prevent the passage of solid particles into the fitting 30.

As is best illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, there is secured to'an ofisetportion of a fitting 30 an intermediate fitting 50 and the upper end of an electric pump 52, the fittings 30 and 50 and the electric pump '52 being connected together by elongated fasteners 54. In order that there "be no leakage between the fittings 30 and'50, there 'is disposed therebetween a gasket 56. A gasket 58 is also disposed between the mounting flange 60 of the pump 52 and the fitting 50.

The fitting 50 is provided with an integral boss 62 having a fluid passage 64 therethrough. Connected to the boss 62 of the fitting 50 is a pipe 66. The pipe 66 has its opposite end connected to a T-fitting 68 placed in the hot water supply line 18. Flow of water through the pipe 66 is controlled by a solenoid valve 70 mounted therein, as is best illustrated in Figure 1.

The fitting 50 is provided with a check valve 72. The check valve 72 is hingedly connected to the inner portion of the fitting 50 by a pivot end 74 and is gravity actuated to a position closing the fluid passage 64. The gasket 56 is provided with a valve seat 76 which is adapted to have seated thereon the valve member 72 when hot water under pressure enters the fitting 50 through the fluid passage 64.

Connected to the electric pump 52 is a flexible fluid supply line 78. The opposite end of the flexible fluid supply line 78 has connected thereto a spray head which is best illustrated in Figure l, the spray head being referred to in general by the reference numeral 80. The spray head 80 is provided with a nozzle 82 through which either wash or rinse Water may be sprayed. The spray head 80 is also provided with a mounting flange 84 to which may be adjustably secured a brush 86, the brush 86 being utilized in the scrubbing of dirty dishes. As is best illustrated in Figure 4, the brush 86 is provided with a handle 88which is removably secured to the mounting flange 84 by a fastener 90.

Referring now to Figure in particular, it will be seen that there is illustrated the wiring diagram for the dishwashing attachment 28. The wiring diagram includes a first lead wire 92 and a second lead wire 94. The first lead wire 92 is connected by a wire 96 to a first contact 98 of the solenoid valve 70. Connected to a second contact 100 of the solenoid valve 70 is a wire 102 which is connected to a first contact of a switch 104. Connected to the other contact of the switch 104 is a wire 106 whose opposite end is connected to the second lead wire 94.

The first lead wire 92 is connected by a wire 108 to a first contact of an electric motor 110 of the electric pump 52. A second wire 112 is connected to a second contact of the electric motor 110. The opposite end of the wire 112 is connected to a first contact of a switch 114. A second contact of the switch 114 is connected by a wire 116 to the second lead wire 94.

Referring now to Figure 6 in particular, it will be seen that the supply line 78 includes both a tubular passage for the passage of water to the spray head 3, the tubular passage being referred to by the reference numeral 120. Also carried by the supply line 78 in the wall thereof are the wires 102 and 112. The wires 106 and 116 of the wiring diagram of Figure 5 are in fact a single wire which will be referred to by the reference numeral 122, the wire 122 also being carried in the wall of the fluid supply line 78. The wires 102, 112 and 122 are connected to a pair of switches carried by the spray head '80, the switches being the switches 104 and 114.

to pass through the fluid passage 48 of the fitting 30 down into the electric pump 52. The spray head 80 is in proper position relative to dishes (not shown) in the sink and the-switch 114 depressed. When the switch 114 is depressed, the electric motor 110 of the electric pump 52 is actuated to pump soapy water from the sink 10 into the spray head and out through the spray nozzle 82 thereof.. By properly manipulating the spray head 30, dishes disposed within the sink 10 will be washed during the circulation of the wash water carried thereby by the electric pump 52. After the dishes have been properly the wash water has been drained from the sink 10, the.

switch 104 may be actuated, the switch 114 being in an open position, so that the solenoid valve 70 is open. Hot water then passes from the hot water supply line 18 into the fitting 50 where it passes through the pump into the supply line 78. The hot water then passes into the spray head and forms a rinse water for the dishes. If desired, after the sink 10 has been filled with rinse water, the solenoid valve 70 can be closed and the electric pump 52 actuated to circulate the rinse water so asto provide a saving of the same.

In order that dishes may be properly positioned within the sink 10 for washing by the dishwashing attachment 28, there is provided a dish rack which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 124. The dish rack 124 includes a relatively flat base 126 which has projecting upwardly at opposite sides thereof lugs 128. The lugs 128 are spaced longitudinally of the base 126 and have pivotally connected thereto lower portions of rack members which are referred to in general by the reference numeral 130. In order that the rack members 130 may be retained in spaced parallel relation, their upper ends are connected together by longitudinally extending bars 132. The bars 132 are pivotally connected to the upper ends of the rack members 130 so as to permit movement thereof from the position illustrated in solid lines in Figure 9 to the positions illustrated in dotted lines in the same figure.

In order that the rack members 130 may be retained in vertically adjusted positions there is connected to the bars 132 a rack member positioning yoke 134. The yoke 134 has the lower ends thereof pivotally connected to the base 126 by engagement with upstanding lugs 136 carried by opposite sides thereof. The yoke 134 is connected to the bars 132 intermediate its ends by pivot pins 138.

In order that the yoke 134 may be retained in adjusted positions it is carried by opposite sides of the base 126 upstanding plates 140 which are provided with integral sector racks 142. The sector racks 142 are intended to adjustably receive the lower portions of the yoke 134 fOr retaining the same in adjusted positions as is best illustrated in Figure 9.

Referring now to Fig. 10 in particular, it will be seen that there is illustrated a modified form of rack member 13% which includes a U-shaped portion 144. The U-shaped portion 144 includes a pair of vertically extending legs 146 which have formed integral therewith opposed lower portions 148. The opposed lower portions are connected together by an upwardly offset central portion 150 and sloping intermediate portions 152. It will be understood that the opposed portions 148'are intended to be received in apertures in the lugs 128 to form the pivotal connection between the rack'mernbers 130 and the base 126.

The upper ends of the legs 146 are connected together by a transversely extending rod 154. The rod 154 has end portions thereof disposed outwardly of the legs 146. These end portions are received through apertures in the bars 132 and the bars 132 are retained thereon by enlarged ends 156 of the bar 154. Connecting the bar 154 to the offset central portion 150 is a pair of spaced parallel centrally located vertical bars 158.

In order that the rack member may conveniently sup port a plate or other type of flat dish, there is secured to the offset central portion 150 offset legs 160 of an inverted U-shaped bracket 162. The legs 168 form seats for plates or the like while the bracket 162, .in combination with the vertical members 158 form guides for such a dish.

"Referring now to Figure 9 in particular, it will be seen that through the use of the yoke 134, the bars 132 may be moved to selective adjusted positions. Movement of the bars 132 to selected adjusted positions results in the changing of the angles of the rack members 130 with respect to the base 126 so that dishes carried thereby may be disposed at the desired angle or angles.

It will be understood that in the use of the dishwashing attachment 28 in a dishwashing operation, the dish rack 124 is to be disposed within the sink whereby the same may be utilized for the convenient positioning of dishes carried thereby. After dishes carried by the dish rack 124 have been thoroughly cleaned and rinsed, the entire dish rack 124 and the dishes carried thereby may be lifted out of the sink 10 and positioned on the drain rack 26 thereof as is best illustrated in Figure l. The dishes carried by the dish rack 124 may then be permitted to drain and dry.

In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been illustrated and described a novel dishwashing attachment which may be conveniently attached to existing sinks in order to temporarily convert them into dishwashers. It will be seen that the converted sinks will function as dishwashers and that the placement and removal or dishes may be facilitated through the use of the dish rack 124.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

head to said pump for spraying drainage therefrom into.

said sink, a water pressure supply pipe connected to said fitting, a water control valve in said supply pipe, and means for selectively operating said pump and water control valve including selective controls on said spray head.

2, The combination of claim 1, said means comprising an electric driving motor for said pump, a solenoid for operating said water control valve, and electric circuits for energizing said motor and solenoid, said selective controls comprising switches on said spray head for controlling said circuits.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,583,710 Welch May 4, 1926 1,599,074 Breer Sept. 7, 1926 1,798,387 Taylor Mar. 31, 1931 2,440,161 Vaudreuil Apr. 20, 1948 2,479,118 Jenness Aug. 16, 1949 2,586,005

Colonna Feb. 19, 1952 

